I am walking the dog. Walking to the train. Walking from one meeting to the other - if at all possible. Walking while "reading" books with my ears. Walking to inhale fresh air into my lungs and light straight into my soul. Walking to think. Walking in order not to think. Walking & Talking. Walking to gain silence.Walking slow to nurture my mind. Walking fast to exercise my body.

And today, while walking quite fast, I suddenly noticed that I have started to walk like my grandma....

I know that "walking like your grandma when walking fast" might not sound like a good thing to realize. But had known my grandma you would know that it is indeed!

Walking like her means walking as fast as you can, spirits high, while leaning forward - looking like the crooked trees in the windy part of Denmark where she used to live. She passed away a few month before turning 101, and she walked, and she walked, and she walked - always fast and determined till she was late in her 90-ies.

When reminded of her this morning, I laid down on the soft bed of leaves in the forest, looking up in the treetops and the blue sky above, feeling grateful for the genes that she hopefully has passed on two me.

I have no idea how much of her DNA I am actually carrying around. She was quite small, I am very tall. She was dark haired and brown eyed. I am blond with blue eyes. But hey that's just looks. There is so much more to both of us than that.

I loved everything about her! Her ability to enjoy life to it's fullest, her curiosity, her physical and mental strength, her warmth, her direct approach, her willpower..... just to mention a few.

And then of course her addiction to walking.

No matter how much of her I am actually carrying around in my genes, I am most certainly carrying her with me in my heart and in my soul.

Laying there on the February forest floor looking up in the skies above, my Sunday gratitude was easily found. Most certainly she running around up there barefoot in her underdress playing heavenlybadminton with some of the kids who went there way too early.

The other grandparents are gathering around them, shaking their heads with sweet indulgence, thinking; "Doesn't she realize she is way too old for fooling around like that...."

But no, my grandma would only realize such a limitation shortly, and then pushing it dedicated aside. Her mindset remained the one of a very young girl most of her life. And I am quite sure her mindset gave her a strength that most her age had lost years and years ago.